Potrero Group Currently Seeking Executive Director for The Pisgah Conservancy

November 4, 2026 – San Francisco-based leadership consulting and search firm Potrero Group is currently leading the executive director search for The Pisgah Conservancy. Senior consultant Jena Kuznik is leading the assignment. The executive director serves as TPC’s chief executive and is the primary steward of its mission, culture, and long-term vision.

This is an opportunity to lead a respected conservation organization at a pivotal moment, building on ten years of trail work, habitat restoration, and community engagement to shape the next strategic plan, cultivate a more diverse and sustainable philanthropic base, and continue to develop the organization to meet the needs of Pisgah.

The executive director will lead a growing team and collaborate closely with a dedicated board of directors to advance TPC’s strategic priorities. This role includes building a more diversified and sustainable revenue base and overseeing the organization’s financial health and operations, according to the job specification.

The ideal candidate will bring a strategic, organization- wide perspective to decision making, balancing programmatic priorities with the operational, financial, and communications investments needed to sustain TPC’s growth. They will possess a combination of non-profit leadership, fundraising abilities, experience in public-private partnerships, and a strong personal commitment to the stewardship of public lands.

In addition, candidates should have executive non-profit leadership experience, ideally as an executive of a comparable mission-driven organization, and a record of fundraising success across major gifts, grants, campaigns, and annual giving, and the warmth and credibility to earn the trust of donors and partners. They will demonstrate sound financial judgment and experience in building the systems, structure, and team to support a growing organization. TPC seeks a strategic thinker who is equally ready to be hands-on with day-to-day work, with a compelling public presence and the ability to rally diverse audiences, from donors to recreational user groups to local officials, around a shared vision for Pisgah.

The Pisgah Conservancy is a non-profit dedicated to supporting the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest (Pisgah) in Western North Carolina. Each year, Pisgah welcomes about 3 million visitors, making it one of the most visited national forests in the U.S. TPC partners closely with the U.S. Forest Service in support of Pisgah by delivering meaningful work on the ground, providing resources and expertise, and engaging and educating people to help the forest thrive

Potrero Group is a national, full-service consulting firm helping non-profits and foundations build stronger, more effective leadership. They specialize in strategic planning, executive search, board development and facilitation—bringing a rigorous, research-driven approach to identifying the next generation of leaders and aligning senior teams around a clear, impactful vision.

Cleveland Justis, founder and CEO, is an accomplished organizational leader in entrepreneurship and the environment for the past 25 years. He has worked and consulted widely with startups, businesses, non-profits, foundations, and governmental organizations, including the National Park Service, Resources Legacy Fund, and Grand Canyon Conservancy. He currently teaches Social Entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. His expertise spans strategic planning, business planning, board development, public/private partnerships, entrepreneurship, network analysis, and innovation. Mr. Justis was formerly the executive director of the UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and co-founded and served as director of the Institute at Golden Gate.

Ms. Kuznik leads Potrero’s search and hiring processes for thought leaders and non-traditional candidates for executive roles at non-profits. In addition to her work with Potrero Group, Jena has managed projects for organizations focused on sustainable agriculture, water resilience, and environmental philanthropy. She specializes in developing collaborative partnerships between diverse actors to create broader impact.

Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership Search

Potrero Group recently placed Karen Strolia as the next CEO of Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) in San Rafael, CA. She succeeds longtime CVNL CEO Linda Jacobs, who led the organization for 25 years. “The board is thrilled to welcome Karen as CVNL’s next chief executive officer,” said Luana Vaetoe, board chair of CVNL. “Throughout the search process, Karen consistently demonstrated the leadership qualities, strategic mindset, and values that align with CVNL’s mission and future aspirations. She brings a unique combination of non-profit, business, and community leadership experience, along with a deep understanding of the North Bay communities we serve.”

“What stood out most was Karen’s ability to honor an organization’s legacy while thoughtfully identifying opportunities for growth and innovation,” Ms. Vaetoe added. “As CVNL builds upon the extraordinary foundation established by Linda Jacobs, we are confident Karen will lead with both vision and purpose, strengthening our impact and expanding the ways we support non-profits, volunteers, and community leaders throughout the region. We are excited to partner with Karen and look forward to the energy, perspective, and leadership she will bring to CVNL, our staff, our stakeholders, and our communities.”

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor — Hunt Scanlon Media

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